Improvement Collocation for IELTS - Advanced Vocabulary for Band 8+

Prity Mallick

7 min read

Updated On Oct 14, 2025

Boost your IELTS skills with Improvement Collocation for IELTS to write and speak fluently, accurately, and confidently for Band 8+. Improve your usage of advanced vocabulary by diving into types, tips, exercises, and more.

Improvement Collocation for IELTS - Advanced Vocabulary for Band 8+

3 Types of Improvement Collocation for IELTS
Tips to Use Specific Words in Improvement Collocation for IELTS
Exercise on Improvement Collocation for IELTS

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Using Improvement Collocation for IELTS in discussions referring to progress, growth, or positive changes can show lexical flexibility. It could be related to personal skills, social development, or academic contexts. At the same time, showing an advanced vocabulary skill can improve your band scores. Through the key improvement collocations, their meanings, and practical usage, you can not only enhance your language skills but also confidently show your skills in the IELTS Exam for a band 8+.

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3 Types of Improvement Collocation for IELTS

Collocations with the term "improvement" can make your expression more natural, accurate, and academically advanced. Improvement is often used to suggest a rise or a positive change, which can be in terms of personal abilities, academic achievements, or societal trends. The three types of collocations can be mastered so that you can convey the meaning clearly while enhancing your lexical range which is a crucial factor in IELTS Grammar to attain a band 8+.

1. Verb + Improvement

Such collocations would depict the actions that lead to or are the outcome of improvements. Below are some of the collocations which can be used and showcase your grasp of advanced vocabulary terms.

Collocation	Strategy	Example
Make Improvement	Can indicate active effort towards progression. Can be followed by a particular domain such as skills or performance.	She worked really hard so that she could make improvements in her writing skills.
Show Improvement	Perfect for talking about noticeable progress that has occurred in the course of time.	Students show improvement after continuous practice.
Achieve Improvement	Useful in formal or academic scenarios	The sportsman achieved improvement in his running speed after months of training.
Demonstrate Improvement	Good for indicating results or repercussions	The experiment convincingly demonstrated improvement in plant growth
Lead to Improvement	Shows the positive change that may or has occurred.	Doing exercises regularly may lead to improvement of the health in general.

2. Adjective + Improvement

Adjectives reveal the extent, the pace, or the importance of improvement. With this knowledge, you will understand how to show variety in your answers while using the term ‘improvement’. The table below shows the different collocations associated with the word while pairing adjectives with it.

Collocation	Strategy	Example
Significant Improvement	Use for large or impactful changes; formal tone.	After the new regulations came into effect, there was a significant improvement in air quality.
Substantial Improvement	Highlights meaningful or major progress.	There has been a substantial improvement in the community facilities due to the implementation of the new project.
Gradual Improvement	This is a description of slow, steady progress.	His speaking skills showed gradual improvement over six months.
Slight Improvement	Use this for minor or subtle changes.	The patient showed a very slight improvement only after the first week of treatment.
Marked Improvement	Use this for strong, noticeable changes.	Her exam scores were a marked improvement this semester.

3. Preposition + Improvement

The third type is with prepositions where you can pair the term ‘improvement’. Such prepositions assist in showing the context or area of improvement. However, you must also learn the specific context in which you need to use the correct collocation. Let’s look at the usage of prepositions in the Improvement Collocation for IELTS.

Collocation	Strategy	Example
Improvement in	This is used to mention the area or field of progress.	There was noticeable improvement in the students' performance.
Improvement of	Shows focus on developing or refining something.	The company paid attention to the improvement of the production processes.
Improvement through	Focuses on the effort due to which an achievement is made	She made an improvement through consistent practice.
Improvement over	Describe progress over time or compared to earlier results.	The group made a huge improvement over a period of time as compared to last year’s report.

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Tips to Use Specific Words in Improvement Collocation for IELTS

To improve your IELTS Vocabulary, you need to be well aware of the situations when you can use specific words. By incorporating adjectives or adverbs with the term ‘improvement’ would indicate the size or importance of the change. When using the right words to point out major or minor improvements, you will be able to make your language precise, natural, and academically appropriate all at the same time. Below are certain tips where you can fit in specific words to enhance your answers.

Large Improvements

Small Improvements

These words are to be used for describing very large, distinguishable, or impressive changes in skills, performance, or situations.
Describing specific progress in IELTS Task 1 data trends.
Emphasizing strong positive outcomes in Task 2 essays.
Highlighting major achievements in Speaking Part 2/3.
significant improvement, substantial improvement, marked improvement, considerable improvement, dramatic improvement
Example :

"There was a significant improvement in student performance after the new teaching method was introduced."

"The policy led to a dramatic improvement in air quality over five years."

These words are to be used when describing gradual, modest, or subtle changes.
Discussing minor changes in graphs or charts in Task 1.
Explaining small but meaningful progress in essays.
Talking about personal development or experiences in Speaking.
slight improvement, modest improvement, gradual improvement, increased improvement
Example :

"There was a slight improvement in attendance after the new schedule was implemented."

"Continuous effort led to gradual improvement in her language skills."

Remember to match the adjective to the scale of improvement so that you would know when to use the appropriate collocation for the term. Use them to show your knowledge of advanced vocabulary while avoiding repetition of the same word multiple times.

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Exercise on Improvement Collocation for IELTS

During your attempt to learn various improvement collocations for IELTS, the very next step is to take part in the active practice sessions through various exercises. This will help keep these words in your memory with the expressions, have them applied correctly and make you gain fluency.

EXERCISE 1. Use the correct form where you would use the collocation ‘Verb+improvement’ and complete the sentences with the following options:

be	bring about	make
notice	show	suggest

1 It’s about 30 years since I was in the British Museum. I’ve______a lot of improvements. It’s a much more exciting place now.

2 Isn’t it great that John’s teachers said that his work has______steady improvement throughout the year!

3 I know a lot of improvements have been______to our computer system since it was first installed. If anyone can think of any more, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

4 Major spending is required to______much- needed improvements in the health service.

5 Could you read over my essay and______any improvements before I hand it in?

6 There has______a gradual improvement in living standards over the past decade.

EXERCISE 2. Use the Common Adjective Expressions and Match the two halves to make sentences :

1 If we want people to use their cars less,	a. I saw a huge improvement in my health.
2 Despite the new sewage treatment plant,	b. so we can only afford minor improvements to school buildings.
3 The last six months	c. it’s a vast improvement on your first attempt.
4 A few months after I stopped smoking	d. there has been a marked improvement in his English.
5 If you follow this exercise program for a month,	e. we need substantial improvements public transport.
6 Teacher’s salaries are going up by 20%	f. you’ll see an enormous improvement in your stamina.
7 Since Marco started going to evening classes	g. have seen a slight improvement in the economy.
8 I’m glad you’ve re-written this essay-	h. there’s been a remarkable improvement in Bill’s condition.
10 Thanks to the doctors and nurses in the intensive-care department	i. there has only been a marginal improvement in the quality of water on our beaches.

EXERCISE 3. Use the nine adjectives in exercise 2 and the following to make a list of adjectives meaning ‘large’ and ‘small’, which can be used with improvement:

minor	considerable	significant	real
massive	sharp	radical	modest

1 Small : ________________________________________________

2 Large : ________________________________________________

EXERCISE 4. Use the correct form where you would use the Expressions with Prepositions and complete the sentences with the following options:

areas	cost	number
prospect	signs	room

1 My teacher said my work was satisfactory, but there was still______for improvement.

2 The consultant’s report highlights several______for improvement within the company.

3 The economy is continuing to show______of improvement.

4 Sadly, the doctors say there is little______of any improvement in my aunt’s condition.

5 Due to unforeseen circumstances the______of the improvements has risen by fifty per cent.

6 The new car incorporates a______of major improvements making it one of the safest to drive.

Answers for the Exercise on Improvement Collocation for IELTS

Now is the time to check the correct answers with yours. Let’s check how you are able to use the collocations and also use them appropriately. The entire process is a must in turning your accuracy, fluency, and eventually your IELTS Band Score up to scoring a band 8+.

EXERCISE 1.

1. noticed	2. shown	3. made
4. bring about	5. suggest	6. been

EXERCISE 2.

1. e	2. i	3. g
4. a	5. f	6. b
7. d	8. c	9. h

EXERCISE 3.

small improvement = marginal, minor, modest, slight
large improvement = considerable, enormous, huge, marked, massive, radical, real, remarkable, significant, sharp, substantial, vast

EXERCISE 4.

1. room	2. areas	3. signs
4. prospect	5. cost	6. number

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Becoming proficient in using improvement collocations in IELTS would need you to memorize them and also use them. You can incorporate these advanced vocabulary to describe development, comment on societal changes, or using phrases to explain trends in graphs. Actively engaging with these expressions will not only make your writing and speaking more natural, precise, and ready for Band 8+ but also enhance your language skills.